Method of manufacturing a sensitive single-layer system for measuring the concentration of analytes, and a system produced by this method

Abstract

Method of manufacturing a sensitive single-layer system for optically detecting a concentration of an analyte, such as, for example, oxygen, the analyte being capable of investigation in liquid or gaseous aggregate condition or in a dissolved condition, by adsorption, luminescence or luminescence quenching of an indicator sensitive to the analyte, which is preferably permanently immobilized in the optical beam path. The sensitive single-layer system achieves a reproducible and extremely short response behavior. Indicators are adsorbed on a filler material and thereafter a mixture is produced with a matrix material permeable to the analyte to be detected. Then, under the action of pressure, the mixture is extruded onto a substrate, the layer thickness being formed in dependence on the applied pressure used. The applied sensitive layer is polymerized, polycondensed or hardened and the layer is also homogenized by swelling in a fluorescence indicator solution.

We claim: 
     
       1. Method of manufacturing a single-layer system for measuring concentration of analytes, comprising: adsorbing fluorescence indicator on filler material forming fluorescence indicator adsorbed filler material;   mixing the fluorescence indicator adsorbed filler material with a permeable matrix material forming a mixture;   applying the mixture under a pressure of 12 to 20×10 4  Pa onto a substrate to obtain a sensitive layer having a thickness and shape;   polymerizing, polycondensing or hardening the matrix material; and   homogenizing the layer by swelling with a solvent capable of dissolving the fluorescence indicator.   
     
     
       2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the applying comprises extruding the mixture into a mold to obtain the sensitive layer on a position on the substrate. 
     
     
       3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the permeable material comprises polydimethylsiloxane. 
     
     
       4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the solvent comprises methylene chloride. 
     
     
       5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the filler material comprises member selected from the group consisting of silica gel and porous glass. 
     
     
       6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the applying under pressure comprises compressing in a mold. 
     
     
       7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the matrix material comprises a polysiloxane. 
     
     
       8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises a reflective substrate. 
     
     
       9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises a reflective substrate. 
     
     
       10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises a member selected from the group consisting of an optical fiber, a bundle of optical fibers, a plate, a lens, a prism and an integrated optical structure. 
     
     
       11. Sensitive-single layer system produced by the method according to claim 1. 
     
     
       12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the applying under pressure comprises utilizing a pressure of 15×10 4  Pa. 
     
     
       13. Sensitive-single layer system produced by the method according to claim 12. 
     
     
       14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the permeable material comprises a polysiloxane; the solvent comprises a solution containing the fluorescence indicator in a molar concentration of 10 -1  to 10 -6  ; the layer includes an overall concentration of fluorescence indicator in the matrix of 10 -1  to 10 -6  mol/l; the filler material comprises a member selected from the group consisting of silica gel and porous glass; and the filler material is contained in the matrix material with a weight proportion of 5 to 65% by weight. 
     
     
       15. Sensitive-single layer system produced by the method according to claim 14. 
     
     
       16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the fluorescence indicator comprises a ruthenium-diamine complex. 
     
     
       17. Sensitive-single layer system produced by the method according to claim 16. 
     
     
       18. The method according to claim 1, wherein the solvent comprises a solution containing the fluorescence indicator in a molar concentration of 10 -1  to 10 -6 . 
     
     
       19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the solvent comprises a solution containing the fluorescence indicator in a molar concentration of 10 -3  to 10 -4 . 
     
     
       20. The method according to claim 18, wherein the solution comprises a methylene chloride solution. 
     
     
       21. Sensitive-single layer system produced by the method according to claim 18. 
     
     
       22. The method according to claim 1, wherein the layer includes an overall concentration of fluorescence indicator in the matrix of 10 -1  to 10 -6  mol/l. 
     
     
       23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the layer includes an overall concentration of fluorescence indicator in the matrix of 10 -2  to 10 -4  mol/l. 
     
     
       24. Sensitive-single layer system produced by the method according to claim 22. 
     
     
       25. The method according to claim 1, wherein the filler material is contained in the matrix material with a weight proportion of 5 to 65% by weight. 
     
     
       26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the filler material is contained in the matrix material with a weight proportion of 20 to 30% by weight. 
     
     
       27. The method according to claim 25, wherein said filler material comprises silica gel. 
     
     
       28. The method according to claim 25, wherein said filler material comprised porous glass. 
     
     
       29. Method of manufacturing a single-layer system for measuring concentration of analytes, comprising: adsorbing fluorescence indicator on filler material forming fluorescence indicator adsorbed filler material;   mixing the fluorescence indicator adsorbed filler material with a permeable matrix material forming a mixture;   applying the mixture under pressure onto a substrate to obtain a sensitive layer having a thickness and shape;   polymerizing, polycondensing or hardening the matrix material;   homogenizing the layer by swelling with a solvent capable of dissolving the fluorescence indicator; and   wherein the substrate comprises a lens, and said lens comprises a GRIN lens.   
     
     
       30. Method of manufacturing a single-layer system for measuring concentration of analytes, comprising: adsorbing indicator on filler material forming indicator adsorbed filler material;   mixing the indicator adsorbed filler material with a permeable matrix material forming a mixture;   applying the mixture under a pressure of 12 to 20×10 4  Pa onto a substrate to obtain a sensitive layer having a thickness and shape;   polymerizing, polycondensing or hardening the matrix material; and   homogenizing the layer by swelling with a solvent capable of dissolving the indicator.   
     
     
       31. Sensitive-single layer system produced by the method according to claim 30.